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" D. N. BARKER.

DRAFT BAR FOR SLEIGHS.

No. 285,377. Patented Sept. 25, 1883.

Cali flea Sea.- M Men w) I J I) W PATENT OFFICE DAVID N. BARKER, or BROADALBIN, NEW YORK.

DRAFT-BAR FOR SLEIGHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,377,

dated September 25, 1883.

Application filed July 19,1ss3. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID N. BARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Broadalbin, in the county of Fulton and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Draft-Bars for Sleighs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention pertains to improvements in sleigh-thill couplings, having for its object to effect the ready adjustment of the thills in a right-angled plane of the draft; and it consists of the combination and construction of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my thill-coupling; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

In putting into practice my invention I securely connect to the front curved portions of the runners. A A a cross-bar, B, by suitable means, preferably of clips. To this bar are fastened clips 0 G, extending forwardly thereof, and each composed of two bent plates, with their forward ends separated to form a slot or passage, a, between them, the office of which will appear presently. WVithin the forwardlyprojecting portions of the clips 0 O is adapted to slide, when force is applied thereto, the bar D, to which is connected, as shown, or otherwise, the cross-bar E of apaiI-"of thills, to which the draft is directly applied. An adjustingscrew, b, secures the bars B and D together. It will be noticed that in order to shift or adjust the draft attachment D E either to the extreme right or left, or intermediately between these points, it is only necessary to loosen the screw 72 and move the bar D so as to permit the connection between it and the bar E to pass through slots a of the clips 0. This adjustment of parts is effected to cause the horse to travel in the same track in going and returning, or to travel on either side of a track in going but one way, which is often desirable, especially in country roads, in consequence of the drifting or melting of the snow, whereby it is often desirable to change the relative position of the draft-animal with reference to the sleigh.

It will be observed that the thills and bar D can be disconnected from the sleigh when it is desired to substitute a pole therefor.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact form and proportion of the parts composing my invention as shown and described, as I am aware that changes in the form and proportion thereof may be made without departing from the principle and sacrificing the advantages of my invention, as, for instance, the clips can be made in one .piece, with a strip of metal suitably connected to the bar B.

I am aware that adjustable draft-bars to not broadly new.

sleighs are thus fully described my invention,

Having what I claim, Patent, is-

In an adjustable draft-bar for sleighs, the combination of the runner cross-bar, having forwardly and inwardly projecting clips separated at their inner ends, with the draft-bar D, having means for connecting it to a pole or pair of thills, said means of connection being adapted to pass through the clips, and the holding or adjusting screw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID N. BARKER.

Witnesses:

JAMES L. HAGEDORN, EDWIN HALLADAY.

and desire to secure by Letters slots or passages of 

